Getting more kids vaccinated on time: Strategies and broader policy considerations to address caregiver-identified barriers to childhood immunisation in Australia

OBJECTIVES: Childhood vaccination rates in Australia have declined since 2020, with multiple barriers indicated in a 2024 national survey. This study aimed to identify evidence-based, feasible strategies to improve childhood vaccination coverage. METHODS: Based on the literature, we mapped evidence-based strategies to the survey-identified barriers. During an online interactive workshop (July 2024), three groups comprising community members (n=5), healthcare professionals (n=3) and immunisation policymakers (n= 4) selected strategies they deemed most appropriate and discussed how to implement them. We synthesised workshop outputs with expert input embedded in the literature. RESULTS: Group 1 selected onsite vaccinations in community settings and tailored campaigns. Groups 2 and 3 focused on reminders for upcoming vaccination and default appointments; provider performance assessment and feedback; and dialogue-based interventions. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a multi-sectoral, multi-component approach: improve service access and utilisation; support provider education and advocacy; support parent confidence and engagement with vaccination; and facilitate providers' access to immunisation data. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: To ensure that young children in Australia do not miss out on timely vaccinations, implementation of the proposed strategies requires changes at the policy and funding level for primary care and streamlining the use of Australian Immunisation Register data.